Self-Launched Mongolia: Naadam Festival & Gobi Desert Adventure

Fly into Chinggis Khaan International Airport (ULN). Most long-haul travellers connect via Beijing, Seoul (Incheon) or Istanbul. Take the 11 bus or a shared taxi from the airport into the city centre (~£2–4). Check into your hostel or guesthouse in the city centre. Spend the afternoon exploring Sukhbaatar Square, the nearby National Museum of Mongolia (entry ~£2), and the landmark State Department Store. In the evening, head to one of the local restaurants around the Peace Avenue area for a welcoming Mongolian meal.

🚌Airport bus (Route 11) or shared taxi to city centre (~£2–4)

🛏Ulaanbaatar Guesthouse, LG Guesthouse, or Khongor Guesthouse (~£12–18/night dorm or private budget room)

• →Explore Sukhbaatar Square (free)
• →Visit the National Museum of Mongolia (~£2 entry)
• →Browse the State Department Store
• →Dinner at a local restaurant on Peace Avenue (~£6–8)

Hire a local driver-guide in Ulaanbaatar for the overland leg (standard practice in Mongolia — negotiate a multi-day 4WD hire, typically £40–60/day split across a small group of 2–4 travellers). Drive west across the steppe (~6–7 hours) to Karakorum, detouring through Khustain Nuruu National Park to track takhi (Przewalski's horses). Entry to Khustain Nuruu costs around £5. Visit the Karakorum Museum (~£3) and the remarkable Erdene Zuu Monastery (entry ~£3), Mongolia's earliest surviving Buddhist monastery with its 108-stupa enclosing wall. Stay at Anja Ger Camp or a similar tourist ger camp near Karakorum (~£20–25/night including dinner and breakfast).

🚌Hired 4WD driver-guide from Ulaanbaatar (~£12–18 pp contribution per day)

🛏Anja Ger Camp or similar near Karakorum (~£20–25/night, meals included)

• →Guided hike in Khustain Nuruu to spot takhi wild horses (~£5 park entry)
• →Visit Karakorum Museum (~£3)
• →Explore Erdene Zuu Monastery (~£3 entry)

Drive south along the northern fringe of the Gobi Desert to Arvaikheer (~3 hours). Stop at Shankh Monastery, one of the oldest active monasteries in Mongolia (free entry, donations welcome). On arrival in Arvaikheer, visit the local provincial museum (~£2) featuring ancient stone figures, Turkic inscriptions and archaeological finds. Browse the local market for snacks and supplies. Stay in a local guesthouse or small hotel in Arvaikheer (~£12–16/night).

🚌Hired 4WD driver-guide (continuing multi-day hire)

🛏Local guesthouse or budget hotel in Arvaikheer (~£12–16/night)

• →Visit Shankh Monastery (free, donations welcome)
• →Arvaikheer Provincial Museum (~£2)
• →Browse the local market

The longest drive of the trip (~6–7 hours) but extraordinarily rewarding. Leave the paved roads behind and head into the remote southern Gobi. Vast gravel plains, dry riverbeds and the distant Ikh Bogd Mountain dominate the horizon. Enjoy a packed lunch on the steppe (prepare supplies in Arvaikheer). Arrive at a remote ger camp by evening for uninterrupted desert skies. Ger camps in this region are typically family-run and bookable via local guesthouses in Ulaanbaatar or through Mongolian travel agencies like Nomadic Expeditions or Eternal Landscapes (~£18–22/night including dinner and breakfast).

🚌Hired 4WD driver-guide (off-road)

🛏Family-run ger camp in Bayan Gobi (~£18–22/night, meals included)

• →Full-day drive through remote Gobi landscapes
• →Photography of Ikh Bogd Mountain and desert scenery
• →Stargazing from the ger camp (free)

Continue through classic Gobi scenery across the Khatan Suudal Steppe and over a desert pass. Stop at the White Cave (Tsagaan Agui), a site of archaeological significance with pale quartz-rich formations (small entry fee ~£2). Enjoy a packed picnic lunch overlooking Arts Bogd Mountain. In the late afternoon, the vast ridges of the Khongoriin Els dunes appear on the horizon — one of Mongolia's most iconic sights. Arrive at a ger camp near the dunes in time for sunset.

🚌Hired 4WD driver-guide

🛏Ger camp near Khongoriin Els (~£18–22/night, meals included)

• →Visit the White Cave / Tsagaan Agui (~£2 entry)
• →Picnic lunch overlooking Arts Bogd Mountain
• →First views of Khongoriin Els dunes at sunset

Spend the day at Khongoriin Els, Mongolia's largest dune system (~125 miles / 200km long, dunes up to 300m high). Climb the dunes at sunrise for panoramic views — when the wind is right, the shifting sand produces the low vibrating sound that earns them the 'Singing Dunes' nickname. In the afternoon, arrange a visit to a local Bactrian camel-herding family through your ger camp host (usually free or a small voluntary contribution of ~£3–5). You can arrange a short camel ride directly with the family (~£5–8).

🚌Short 4WD transfer (~30 mins)

🛏Ger camp near Khongoriin Els (~£18–22/night, meals included)

• →Hike and climb the Khongoriin Els Singing Dunes (free)
• →Sunrise views from the dune ridges
• →Visit a nomadic Bactrian camel-herding family (~£3–5 contribution)
• →Optional camel ride (~£5–8)

Drive through Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park (Three Beauties of the Gobi). Pay the national park entry fee at the gate (~£3–5). Visit the small Yolyn Am museum before hiking into the canyon itself — a deep, narrow gorge where ice can linger on the valley floor even in midsummer. The canyon hike is free once inside the park and takes 1–3 hours depending on how far you go. Keep an eye out for ibex, argali sheep and lammergeiers. Transfer to a nearby ger camp in the afternoon.

🚌Hired 4WD driver-guide (~4 hours driving)

🛏Ger camp near Yolyn Am (~£18–22/night, meals included)

• →Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park entry (~£3–5)
• →Visit Yolyn Am Museum (included with park entry)
• →Hike into Yolyn Am canyon (free within park)

A more relaxed day. Drive ~70km to Bayanzag, the world-famous Flaming Cliffs where American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews discovered the first dinosaur eggs in the 1920s. The deep red-orange sandstone cliffs are a spectacular sight, especially in afternoon light. Walk freely around the cliffs — there is a small entry fee (~£2–3) but no formal guiding is required. Fossil fragments can occasionally be spotted on the ground (leave them in place — it is illegal to remove them). Return to your ger camp for the evening.

🚌Hired 4WD driver-guide (~3 hours driving round trip)

🛏Ger camp near Bayanzag (~£18–22/night, meals included)

• →Explore the Flaming Cliffs / Bayanzag (~£2–3 entry)
• →Self-guided walk and fossil spotting
• →Photography in afternoon golden light

Begin the journey north back towards Ulaanbaatar. Drive ~6–7 hours to Baga Gazryn Chuluu, a dramatic landscape of weathered granite formations rising sharply from the steppe — a site of Buddhist pilgrimage and local legend. Visit the ruins of Lovonchombo Monastery hidden among the rocks, and seek out the natural spring said to have healing properties for the eyes. The formations are spectacular in evening light. This is your final night in a traditional ger camp.

🚌Hired 4WD driver-guide (~6–7 hours driving)

🛏Ger camp at Baga Gazryn Chuluu (~£18–22/night, meals included)

• →Explore Baga Gazryn Chuluu granite formations (free)
• →Visit ruins of Lovonchombo Monastery (free)
• →Visit the healing natural spring
• →Sunset photography among the granite outcrops

Drive into Terelj National Park (~6–7 hours), one of Mongolia's most accessible protected areas, with granite rock formations, forested valleys and wildflower-dotted meadows. Pay the national park entry fee at the gate (~£3–5). In the afternoon, hike up to the Aryabala Temple, a Tibetan Buddhist meditation centre on a hillside with sweeping views across the valley. The path climbs via stone steps past boards of Buddhist teachings. Stay at the excellent Guru Eco Ger Camp or a similar eco-ger camp within the park.

🚌Hired 4WD driver-guide (~6–7 hours driving)

🛏Guru Eco Ger Camp or similar in Terelj National Park (~£20–25/night, meals included)

• →Terelj National Park entry (~£3–5)
• →Hike to Aryabala Temple (free within park)
• →Views across Terelj valley from the temple

Drive back towards Ulaanbaatar, stopping at the Genghis Khan Statue Complex at Tsonjin Boldog (~1 hour from the city). Entry is around £8–10 — ascend through the structure to the viewing platform on the horse's head for panoramic views. After lunch near the complex (~£5–7 at local canteen), continue to Ulaanbaatar. Check back into your city guesthouse. In the evening, consider attending a traditional music and dance performance at the National Academic Drama Theatre (~£8–10), featuring throat singing, contortion and traditional instruments.

🚌Hired 4WD driver-guide back to Ulaanbaatar (~1.5 hours)

🛏Ulaanbaatar Guesthouse or budget hotel (~£12–18/night)

• →Genghis Khan Statue Complex, Tsonjin Boldog (~£8–10 entry)
• →Ascend to viewing platform on the horse's head
• →Optional: Traditional music and dance show at National Academic Drama Theatre (~£8–10)

The Naadam Festival (11–13 July) is Mongolia's most celebrated national event, showcasing the Three Games of Men: wrestling, archery and horse racing. Today, attend the spectacular Opening Ceremony at the National Stadium — a colourful pageant of traditional costumes, music and horsemanship. Tickets for the Opening Ceremony should be booked in advance through official Mongolian tourism channels or a local agency (~£15–25). After the ceremony, watch the traditional Mongolian wrestling (Bökh) competition in the stadium grounds (included with ticket). Explore the festival grounds and try local street food including khuushuur (fried meat pastries, ~£1 each).

🚌On foot or city bus (~£0.50)

🛏Ulaanbaatar Guesthouse or budget hotel (~£12–18/night)

• →Naadam Opening Ceremony, National Stadium (~£15–25 ticket — book in advance)
• →Mongolian wrestling (Bökh) competition
• →Festival food stalls — khuushuur and airag (fermented mare's milk)

Continue experiencing the Naadam Festival. Head to the archery competition venue to watch men and women compete in traditional Mongolian archery using composite bows — one of the most atmospheric events of the festival. Nearby, watch the ankle-bone shooting (Shagai) competition, a traditional game using sheep ankle bones as targets. Wander the festival grounds, browse craft stalls and interact with families in traditional deel clothing. In the evening, explore the city's restaurants and rooftop bars around Sukhbaatar Square.

🚌On foot or city bus (~£0.50)

🛏Ulaanbaatar Guesthouse or budget hotel (~£12–18/night)

• →Naadam archery competition (free to watch at archery ground)
• →Watch ankle-bone shooting (Shagai) competition (free)
• →Browse traditional craft and souvenir stalls
• →Dinner at a local Mongolian restaurant (~£7–10)

Start the morning at Gandan Monastery, Ulaanbaatar's most important active Buddhist monastery and home to a stunning 26-metre golden Janraisig statue. Entry is free; a small photography fee (~£2) applies inside. Stroll the monastery grounds and watch monks at prayer. In the afternoon, arrange a taxi or shared minibus to Hui Doloon Hudag, approximately 35km outside the city, for the Naadam horse racing finale. Children aged 5–13 ride horses across distances of up to 30km in one of the world's most remarkable sporting spectacles. Taxi to the race site costs ~£8–10 return shared. This is one of Mongolia's most memorable experiences.

🚌City taxi or shared minibus to race site (~£8–10 return)

🛏Ulaanbaatar Guesthouse or budget hotel (~£12–18/night)

• →Gandan Monastery visit (free entry, ~£2 photography fee)
• →Watch monks at prayer
• →Naadam horse racing at Hui Doloon Hudag (free spectator entry)
• →Taxi/shared minibus to race site (~£8–10 return)

Final morning in Ulaanbaatar. Check out of your accommodation and take a last wander around the city — pick up any remaining souvenirs from the Black Market (Narantuul) or the State Department Store. Take a taxi or bus to Chinggis Khaan International Airport (~£4–8) for your onward flight. Most connections depart to Beijing, Seoul or Istanbul. Allow plenty of time as the airport can be busy during festival season.

🚌City taxi or bus to airport (~£4–8)

🛏N/A (departure day)

• →Last-minute shopping at Narantuul Market (Black Market)
• →Transfer to Chinggis Khaan International Airport (~£4–8)